Yosemite: sleep In the park a must ?
 

For a two day one night Yosemite visit, is it a must to make night in the park ( Y Lodge, can't afford Awhanee ) or can be done with a significant $ difference outside the park. I remember Y Lodge in 93, very very basic but scenic, now offered at 110 $. any comments ?

Mote - we just returned from Yosemite and stayed in the cabins in Curry Village (just posted trip report last night here on Fodors). One thing we were struck by was the distance to & from the "outside" lodgings. Would recommend staying in if at all possible.

I would also recommend staying in the valley if possible. For our 1st trip to Yosemite (2 nights) we stayed at the Tenaya Loage, just outside the south entrance to the park. The drive into the valley took about 45 minutes to an hour. It was a nice drive, but it was definitely long on the way out after spending all day riding our bikes around the valley.

Our 2nd trip to Yosemite we stayed in the tent cabins in the Housekeeping Camp, and that was great. We had maximum time in the park and were able to enjoy the early morning and evenning hours when the day trippers weren't around and the park was more peaceful.

I also recommend inside the park. It is so very nice to not have the driving time added to an already too short day. We stayed at Yosemite Lodge on the valley floor and were so happy we made that choice. The restaurant there was good and we always requested a window seat where we could see Yosemite Falls. There is a cafe next to the property where you can have breakfast. We had dinner one night at the Awhanee and the views are awesome. I think our dinner for two ran around $100.00 with a bottle of wine.

Absolutely stay in the Valley. Any other lodging that says they are in the park are at least 45 min of slow winding roads away. This isn't just the time -- the rides are "scenic" but windy, and I put scenic in quotes because if you want REAL scenic you stay in the valley and look at waterfalls and 2000 foot granite cliffs and formations and El Capitan etc etc oh yeah and Half Dome. I have been at the park dozens of times over the years. We stayed at the Lodge in June --- its basically a motel room -- but you have a real bed, and a bath shower etc vs tent cabins and housekeeping with is a bit more roughing it. (but still great). Our 2 sons and their "significant others" stayed at houskeeping camp -- they had a unit on the River with views of Half Dome one way and Yosemite Falls the other. And if you are in the valley at 9pm you can watch the Fire Falls off Glacier Point.......... oh wait, they stopped that in 1968.

Stay in the Valley. If you are unsure of the lodging alternatives and what they lok like go to

http://www.yosemitepark.com/bookonline.cfm?sectionID=22

Just an added comment. If you're trying to get a room some time in the near future, just keep calling reservations. I will be at Yosemite Lodge next week and needed to add another night. I've called at least 25 times since I made my original reservation in October. They say that the rooms open up since people cancel between 3 and 10 days prior to their arrival.

Definitely stay in the VAlley if at all possible. Otherwise you'll end up wasting time driving 30 or 40 minutes each way into and out of the Valley.

Our family stayed at The Ahwahnee for 2 nights, and Yosemite Lodge for 1 night from 6/30 through 7/2. I highly agree with the other postings - stay in the valley if at all possible - you don't want to leave once you're there. Yes, The Ahwahnee is very pricey - our room was ordinary. But, the other areas of the hotel are very elegant, both inside and out. We had a very enjoyable dinner there, although I've seen other postings to the contrary.
Yosemite Lodge is in the ideal location - several food choices nearby, large pool, right on the shuttle bus route, and a great view of Yosemite Falls. I believe we paid about $160 - and our room was larger than the one at The Ahwahnee. But, why stay only one night? I would feel cheated! By the way, we had to make reservations about a year in advance. When are you going?
Good luck.

Please, please by all means sleep in the valley. Yosemite Lodge, Ahwahnee, and Curry Village are the accomodations in the valley. If you stay on the outskirts of the park, time will be wasted driving back and forth to get to the valley floor.

Of course accomodations outside the valley are less expensive. When you stay in Yosemite, you are paying for the location. IMO, it is worth the extra money to avoid the drive in and out of the valley every day (esspecially if you are only staying 1 night).

If you can get accommodations within the valley, of course, that's the best. However, the Yosemite View Lodge just outside the park in El Portal is actually closer to the valley (about 12 miles) than many of the facilities within Yosemite! It's worth looking into if you can't get into Yosemite Lodge.